India’s women’s team batsman, Yastika Bhatia, has revealed that star player Smriti Mandhana is her favourite cricketer. The 23-year-old, who received her maiden call for the India team in September 2021, initially enjoyed batting without following a specific player. However, after Smriti Mandhana made her debut, she quickly became Yastika’s favourite.
“In the beginning, I didn’t follow anyone. I just wanted to enjoy batting. Then gradually, I also started focusing on wicketkeeping. I used to watch Adam Gilchrist. He was Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman. Then once Smriti di made her debut, she became my favourite immediately,” Yastika shared.
Yastika, expressing her excitement, talked about donning the Mumbai Indians jersey for Women’s Premier League Season 2. In her debut season for the Mumbai Indians, she played 10 matches, accumulating 214 runs at a strike rate of 112.04. Looking ahead to the new season, Yastika expressed her eagerness to wear the blue shades of MI once again.
Reflecting on her debut season with the Mumbai Indians, Yastika mentioned the warm welcome into the team and the camaraderie that made her feel like part of a family. She is eagerly anticipating the forthcoming edition of the Women’s Premier League and the unique feeling of being associated with the Mumbai Indians.
Before making her debut against Australia in Mackay, Yastika’s childhood involved playing various sports beyond cricket, including swimming, karate, and badminton. Cricket became her career when she joined a girl’s team practicing near her home, inspired by a neighbor who played Ranji Trophy.
“I liked playing sports since childhood. I would go for swimming, karate, and badminton. But I never thought cricket would become my career because academics were as important growing up. One of my neighbors used to play Ranji Trophy. He told my father about a girl’s team practicing at a ground close to our home. My sister and I went there. However, I was too small then, so they admitted my sister while I had to wait for two years. While I waited for my chance, I dreamt of going to the ground and playing with my sister,” Yastika added.
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